Capping apparatus



May 3, 1938. H. E. 'GANTZER 2,116,058

GAPPING'APPARATUS Fil ed .Oct. 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

fianizer' Patented May 3,'19 3 8 UNITED STATES anaocs ommo arraiia'rus Howard E. Gantaer, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to Consolidated Packaging Machinery Corporation, Bufl.'alo, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October a.

' 18 Claims.

- The present invention relates to an improved cap applying chuck and capping machine for operating the same. The chuck comprises novel means to actuate a deforming annulus and cooperating members to apply deformable caps of the type comprising a protruding bead which is crimped and locked onto lugs or flanges of containers, and the machine comprises improvements in a known type of machine whereby the aforesaid chuck may be substituted for other types of chucks.

The present application is a continuation in part of mycopending application Serial No. 48,- 993, filed November 9, 1935. The machine in which the chuck is preferably employed is preferably of the type disclosed and claimed'in the patent to Robert N. Cundall No. 1,773,960, and my copending application Serial No. 683,432, filed August 3, 1933, which has matured into Patent No. 2,076,631, dated April 13, 1937.

The basic principles of the present invention may be embodied in many forms in order that various sizes, shapes and types of deformable caps may be manipulated. One form of the present invention is designed with respect to a cap known to the trade as the tailor-made or tailored cap, comprising a cap which is partially rotated to position indentations of the cap beneath lugs on the container and is then deformed to fit the cap to the container, thereby frictionally locking the indentations beneath the lugs. One object of the present invention is to devise a chuck which will rotate the cap'until the indentations are seated and will then apply deforming pressure to clinch the cap in place, the chuck being so designed that individual variations in both the cap and the container do not alter the performance of the chuck.

An advantage of the present invention lies in its simplicity and the. relative simplicity of substituting the present chuck for others designed to accomplish other functions. A feature of the present invention lies in the adjustability of the various working parts and the ease of controlling the pressures applied to the cap. A further feature of the invention lies in the relation of various parts with respect to one another whereby uniform results are achieved in spite of minor variations in the caps and containers.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be realized. from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Referring to the drawings:

1936, Serial No. 104,571

Fig. 1 discloses one form of the invention which may be used under certain circumstances, showing the chuck in open condition;

Fig. 2 is a quarter-section of the chuck of Fig. 1 showing the same in closed or operating condition;

Fig. 3 isa side view of the neck of a container provided with lugs designed to hold a tailormade cap;

Fig. 4 is a view, partially in cross-section, of a tailor-made cap;

Fig. 5 is a quarter-section of a modified form of the chuck, showing the same in open position;

Fig. 6 is a view in skeleton outline showing the chuck of Fig. 5 in closed position, Figs. 5 and 6 being juxtaposed to-show the relative position of operating parts from the time the chuck jaws commence to close until the same are at their innermost positions;

Fig. 7 is 'a view in vertical cross-section of the essential parts of a preferred form of capping machine having the chuck of Fig. 5 applied thereto and Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a'portion of a modifled form' of chuck which may be found desirable under some circumstances.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a chucksupporting head In which is adapted to be connected to a spindle rotatably and slidably mounted ina capping machine in the manner of the spindles illustrated and claimed in the patent to Robert N. Cundall #1,773,'960, the spindle, machine and chuck being shown in operative connection in Fig. 7. The head ill is provided with an enlarged disc-shaped flange i i which guides a relatively movable cylindrical member l2 provided with an overhanging flange l3 positioned above the flange I I. A washer 14 made of leather .or other frictional material is mounted upon and fixed to flange l3, the rotation of head ill transmitting rotation to the cylindrical member i2 when in contact therewith. The member l2 supports the operating parts of the chuck, which include an annular cam ring I5 rigidly fastened to member I! and forming an extension thereof and a cap-deforming annulus i6 rigidly fastened to cam ring l5 and spaced inwardly therefrom. The member l2, cam ring l5 and cap deforming annulus l6 form a relatively integral structure which always movesas a unit. A central plunger I1 is guided within annulus i6 and is provided with a guiding flange l8 at its upper end which slides relative to the inner surface of member i2,

A spring l9, compressively mounted between-am 6 nulus l6 and flange l8, tends to keep flange II in rotating contact with washer ll, a plurality of balls 20 placed on the top of flange I 8 transmitting the thrust of the spring. A plurality of radial slots 2| are cut through the wall of annulus l6 and a plurality of rockingfingers 22 are mounted in the slots, each finger extending radially inward and outward from the annulus. The inner ends of the fingers are confined within an annular groove 23 in the lower end of plunger H and the outer end of each finger is confined within a groove 25 in each of a plurality of con centric outer members 26, the members 26 being slidably guided between the cam ring l5 and annulus 16. The lower end of each of the members '26 is provided with a recess 21 within which is confined an endless coil spring 28 which tends to keep the lower ends of said members in the relationship shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of each member 26 is also provided with an outer heel 29 and an inner toe 30, the heel designed to be confined within the cam ring IS in order to center and rigidly back the members 26 when in operation and to pass below the annulus l6 in order that the members 26 may spread against the tension of spring 28 in order to pass beneath the flange of a cap and hold the same. The toes 30 constitute deforming portions which, together with the inwardly recessed lower face of annulus l6, fit the cap to the bottle by compressing the deformable bead thereon. The toes 30 and the annulus I6 therefore constitute relatively movable chuck jaws.

When the chuck is in the normal position illustrated in Fig. 1, spring I9 maintains the washer It in driving contact and maintains the heels 29 below the end of cam ring [5. In such position the chuck may be lowered onto a previously positioned cap, or onto a cap presented thereto by suitable cap-feeding mechanism (not shown), which it will engage by reason of the members 26 spreading until the fingers 30 pass below the bead 35 of the cap. The cap may now be lowered onto the neck of a container (if it has not been so placed previously) until the lower edge of the skirt 36 contacts the flange 3'! of the container or until the top of the cap or the sealing plug 36 contacts the edge 39 of thecontainer, the indentations 40 provided on the cap finding their way between the lugs 4i provided on the container. The toes 30 grip the cap with suflicient force to transmit rotation of head Hi to the cap until the indentations 40 strike the extensions 42 of the lugs 4|, whereupon the chuck will slip relative to the rotating head Ill, the frictional factors involved being such that slippage will occur. head i0 separates flanges II and I3 as shown in Fig. 2 and lowers the plunger l1, thereby compressing spring I9 and rocking fingers 22 when the lower surface of annulus l6 contacts the top of the cap- The upper surface of the head 35 is depressed by the lower surface of the annulus and the sealing plug 38 is forced into the neck of the container to an extent determined by the strength of spring l9. The outer members 26 concentrically locate the cap by reason of the heels 29 being confined within the cam ring l5 and raise the indentations 40 against the lower surfaces of the lugs 4|. As the plunger moves downwardly the rocking fingers 22 transmit upward movement to outer members 26 and the bead of the cap is deformed between the annulus and the toes 30.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of chuck embodying features of great advantage.

Continued downward pressure on the The modified form seats the upper portion and top of the cap within the depression in the lower surface of the annulus at the same time that the cap is engaged by the toes of the outer members thus insuring accurate and reliable positioning of the cap within the chuck. Also in the modified form the chuck jaws are opened only to such an extent that the bead on the cap is loosely embraced and are closed only to an extent suflicient to deform the bead. Other features of the improved form will be apparent from the following description:

Rotation is imparted to the chuck by a head l0 comprising a driving flange ll over which is positioned a cylindrical member I2 comprising an overhanging flange I3, a friction washer It being positioned between the said flanges. Cylindrical member i2 is fixed to an annular cam ring l5 constituting an extension of the member, the members l2 and I5 moving as a unit. A central plunger 11 is guided by and guides a deforming annulus l 6' which is loosely mounted to slide in the space between cam ring l5 and plunger II. A compression spring I9 is mounted between cam ring l5 and a flange l8 at the upper end of plunger IT. A thrust bea ing 20' is positioned; between flanges H and I8 in order to transmit downward thrust from head ii). A plurality of radial slots 2| are cut through the wall of annulus l6 and a plurality of rocking fingers 22 are mounted therein with their ends extending radially therefrom. The inner ends of fingers 22' are positioned within a groove 23' in the lower end of plunger H, a pin 52 insuring rotation of the fingers with the plunger, and the outer end of each of the fingers is positioned within a groove 25 in each of a plurality of concentric outer members 26. The concentric outer members are mounted to slide vertically between the annulus l6 and the inner surface of cam ring I5 and are provided with a retaining groove 21' within which is mounted an endless coil spring 28' tending to keep the members in inward position. The lower ends of members 26' are provided with heels 29' which cooperate with cam ring l5 to center and rigidly back the outer members and with toes 30' adapted to engage beneath the bead of a cap presented thereto.

Annulus I6 is pressed downwardly by a coil spring 56 positioned between the top of the annulus and the flange l8, the downward movement of the annulus being limited by engagement of the rocking fingers with the lower surface of the groove 23'. The fingers 22 and the slots 2| are shaped rigidly to lock the parts in definite position, the compression of spring 50 causing theparts to assume the relationship shown in Fig. 5. Upon downward movement of the chuck (and rotation thereof as previously described to seat the sealing plug 38 against the upper edge 39 of a container) spring 50 will be compressed while compressing the sealing plug 38 without there being any effect upon spring I9. Since members l2 and I5, through the frictional contact of spring I! and other parts, transmit rotation to the chuck jaws it can be seen that a to sealing plug 36 has been that of spring 50 ing of the jaws.

.of spring 50, is such that the container will be properlysealed-to prevent leakage. Continued downward movement of head l0 now causes the rocking of fingers 22' and therefore the raisingof members 2'5 which have previously been surrounded and centered by the cam ring l5. It is to be'noted that the groove 23, is of sufficient width so that the upper surface of the groove strikes the fingers 22- at about the instant that cam ring l5 strikes the ledge 5|. Fig. 6 shows the relative position of all of the sliding parts at the instant of extreme deforming movement of the chuck jaws, showing that the annulus l6 remains stationary, except for movement incident to the compression of the sealing plug, from the instant the container commences to resist downward movement and also that the movement of members 26' is limited to that sufficient to im-- part the proper squeezing force firmly to lock the cap to the container.

Upward movement of head l0 results, first, in expansion of spring 19, thereby raising plunger ll until the lower surface'of groove 23' strikes the rocking fingers 22'. Continued movement causes the friction member M to engage flange l3 and movement of plunger l1 and cam ring l5 as a unit together with simultaneous open- Since the heels 29' pass below the confining limits of cam ring 15' the members 26 may open sufliciently to permit the chuck to release the capped container. It can be seen that the present form does not tend to raise the container and existing forms of capping machines may be used without the provision of container-elevating mechanism.

Fig. 7 shows the chuck of Figs. 5 and 6 in use upon a preferred existing form of machine. The

machine comprises a fixed non-rotating post 60 about-which a table Si is mounted to rotate. Spaced discs 62 and 63 are connected to rotate with table Si by means which are not shown, reference being made to Letters Patent No. 1,773,960,

previously mentioned, for a disclosure of such parts. Vertical rods 04 extending between table BI and disc 62 carry clamping arms 65 and crank arms 66, .the latter being provided with cam followers 61 which engage a cam track 68 provided on the lower surface of a fixed driving gear 69 fastened to post 60 by a set screw 10. The gear 09 is provided with vertical. teeth 15 of considerable width which are engaged by spur gears 10 fixed to spindles 'II vertically guided in bearings 18 and 19 provided in discs 62 and 63, re-

spectively. The spindles are provided with elevating mechanism comprising horizontal rollers 80 maintained in radial alignment with post 60' by guides disclosed in theaforementioned patent. The rollers 80 ride upon a ring cam 8| fixed to the upper surface of gear 69 and elevate or lower the. spindles as shown, the relative widths of gearsfiQ and 16 causing contact to be maintained therebetween whereby the spindles are continuously rotated about their axes as they are rotated bodily about the post 60. At the operative position of the chuck the spindles are lowered to such a position that the sealing plug of a cap rests upon the upper edge of a container. In order resiliently to lower the spindle to proper position a depressing cam 85 is provided, the same being mounted upon an arm 86 pivotally t mounted on a collar 8'! fixed to gear 69 and provided with a limiting abutment 81 and a depressing spring 08 adjustably compressed between the surface of the arm and the head of an adjusting bolt- 89 as disclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 2,076,631. As the chuck rotates from'its.

open position at the right of Fig. 7 it is par tially lowered to pick up a cap presented thereing been positioned on table GI by mechanism (not shown) and clamped by a clamping arm 65 in substantially vertical alignment with the chuck. The containers are ejected from the machine-as the table and rotating parts pass from the left-to the right of Fig. 7. e

As shown in said Patent No. 1,773,960, an ejecting plunger I00 may be mounted in a bore of spindle 11 and provided with an enlarged head i0l confining a light compression spring I22 between the head and the fitting 9|. At the uppermost position of the spindle the head l0! strikes an adjustable abutment I02 carried by a ring I03 mounted upon disc 63 which causes compression of spring I22 and projection of the ejecting plunger beneath the lower surface of the annulus Hi to assure the removal of caps which failed to become seated upon a container.

Fig. 8 shows a feature which may be found of springs H0 seated in bores in the toes 30 and the lowersurface of the annulus l6. These springs are designed to be loosely held until the chuck is in squeezing or closed position and may be so proportioned as to tend to overcome frictional resistance of the jaws against separation after operating.

Modifications in arrangement and detail of the present invention may be devised by those skilled in the art,and the true scope of my invention is to be determined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger movable relative to said annulus and having such operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers as to rockgsaid fingers in either direction, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members may be moved-toward and away from said annulus by said fingers, and a cam ring surrounding said members within which said members are guided upon movement thereof.

able caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, and a cam ring attached to said annulus and surrounding said members, said members being movably guided between said annulus and said cam ring whereby said cam ring rigidly backs and centers said outer members upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus.

3. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ring surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members .upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus, and resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring.

4. A capping chuck adapted to apply deform-1 able caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rockingfingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ring surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus, and resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of saidmembers from engagement with said cam ring, said members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension of said resilient means and to engage the flange of a cap when in projected position.

5. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a camring surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus, resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring, said members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension,

of said resilient means and to engage the flange of a cap when in projected position and being also provided with projecting heels adapted to engage the inner surface of said cam ring upon retraction of said members.

6. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, a plurality oi outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ring surrounding said members and adap ed rigidly to back and center said members upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus, resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring, said members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension of said resilient means and to engage the flange of a cap when in projected position and being also provided with projecting heels adapted to engage the inner surface of said camring upon retraction of said members, and a spring compressively mounted between said annulus and said plunger and yieldably resisting the rocking of said fingers.

7. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ring surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus, resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring, said members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension of said resilient means and to engage the flange of a cap when in projected position and being also provided with projecting heels adapted to engage the inner surface of said cam ring upon retraction of said members, a spring compressively mounted between said annulus and said plunger and yieldably resisting the rocking of said fingers, a rotatable chuck supporting head adapted to move said plunger relative to said annulus and to compress said spring, and means to cause rotation of said cam ring with said head when said spring is extended.

8. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers, comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movablerelative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, the connection between said plunger and said fingers comprising a groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion of said plunger is lost, and a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers.

9. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, the connection between said plunger and said fingers comprising a groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion of said plunger is lost, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, and a cam ring surrounding said members within which said members are guided upon movement thereof.

10. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, the connection between said plunger and said fingers comprising a groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion of said plunger is lost, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, and a cam ring movable with respect to said annulus and surrounding said members, said members being movably guided between said annulus and said cam ring whereby said cam ring rigidly backs and centers said outer members upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus.

11. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, the connection between said plunger and said fingers comprising a groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion of said plunger is lost, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingerswhereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ring movable axially of said annulus and surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus, and resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring.

12. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, the connection between said plunger and said fingers comprising a groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion of said plunger is lost, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ring movable axially of said annulus and surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon relative movement thereof toward said annulus, and resilient means "yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring, said outer members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension of said resilient means and to engage the flange of a cap when in projected position.

13. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, the connection between said plunger and said fingers comprising a groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion of said plunger is lost, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends toward said annulus by said fingers, and a camring movable axially of said annulus and surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon' relative movement thereof toward said annulus, resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring, said outer members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension of said resilient means and to engage the flange of a cap when in projected position and being also provided with projecting heels adapted to engage the inner surface of said cam ring upon retraction of said members.

14. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrorma central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, the, connection between said plunger and said fingers comprising a groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion ofsaid plunger is lost, a plurality of outer cap-deformof said fingers whereby said members are drawn ing members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ringmovable axially of said annulus and surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon move-- ment relative thereof toward said annulus, re-

silient 'means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring, said outer members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension of said resilient means and to engage the fiange of a cap when in projected position and being also provided with projecting heels adapted to engage the inner surface of said cam ring upon retraction of said members, and a spring compresslvely mounted between said cam ring and said plunger and yieldably resisting relative movement of said cam ring and said plunger.

15. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deforming annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radia groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion of said plunger is lost, a plurality of outercap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ring movable axially of said annulus and surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon relative movement thereof toward said members, resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring, said outer members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension of said resilient means and to engage the flange of a cap when in projected position and being also provided with projecting heels adapted to engage the inner surface of said cam ring upon retraction of said members, a spring compressively mounted between said cam ring and said plunger and yieldably resisting relative movement of said cam ring and said plunger, arotatable chuck supporting head adapted to move said plunger relative to said annulus and to compress said spring, and friction means to cause rotation of said cam ring with said head when said spring is extended.

16. A capping chuck adapted to apply deformable caps to containers comprising a cap-deform-= ing annulus, a plurality of rocking fingers mounted upon said annulus and projecting radially therefrom, a central plunger having operative engagement with the inner ends of said fingers and movable relative to said annulus whereby to rock said fingers, the connection between said plunger and said fingers comprising a groove in said plunger within which said fingers extend, said groove being of greater width than said fingers whereby some of the motion of said plunger is lost, a plurality of outer cap-deforming members having operative engagement with the outer ends of said fingers whereby said members are drawn toward said annulus by said fingers, a cam ring movable axially of said annulus and surrounding said members and adapted rigidly to back and center said members upon relative movement thereof toward said members, resilient means yieldably retaining said members in position upon movement of said members from engagement with said cam ring, said outer members being provided with inwardly projecting toes adapted to spread against the tension of said resilient means and to engage the flange of a cap when in projected position and being also provided with projecting heels adapted to engage the inner surface of said cam ring upon retraction of said members, a first spring compressively mounted between said cam ring and said plunger and yieldably resisting relative movement of said cam ring and said plunger, a rotatable chuck 'supporting head adapted to move said plunger relative to said annulus and to compress said spring, friction means to cause rotation of said cam ring with said head when said spring is extended, and a second spring compressively mounted between said annulus and said plunger and yieldingly resisting the rocking of said fingers until said first spring commences to be compressed.

17. A capping machine adapted to apply a vertical movement thereof, said chuck including a clutch member adapted to disengage from said spindle when the closure is positioned on the container and further movement thereof is resisted by the container, and means within the chuck to squeeze the sides of the closure flange toward each other during further downward movement of the spindle.

18. A. capping machine adapted to apply a closure having a skirt provided with a protruding,

compressible annular flange and locking means thereon, to the open end of a container provided with a lug adjacent its open end with which said locking means is adapted to engage when said flange is compressed, comprising a spindle, a chuck supported thereby, means to raise and lower said spindle and chuck with respect to a container positioned therebeneath, means to rotate said spindle about its axis during vertical movement thereof, said chuck including a clutch member adapted to disengage from said spindle when the closure is positioned on the container and further movement thereof is resisted by the container, means within the chuck to squeeze the sides of the closure flange toward each other during further downward movement of the spindle, and means to vary the compressive force applied to the closure flange.

HOWARD IE. GANTZE'R.

I, closure having a skirt provided with a protrud- 

